Electrode for magnetic flow sensor
First Claim
1. A fluid flow sensor for sensing a flow of a fluid through a region, the sensor comprising a magnetic circuit for applying a magnetic field to at least a part of the region, and a configuration of electrodes for sensing a potential generated in operation between the electrodes in response to the fluid flowing through the magnetic field wherein each of the electrodes is formed by a succession of a metal element, a metal halide element, and an at least partially electrically conductive porous element located in contact with said metal halide element and, in use, with said fluid, said porous element being operable to at least partially hinder progressive loss of the metal halide element to the flow of the fluid and to provide an electrically conductive path between the flow of the fluid and the metal halide element and thereby to the metal element;
- wherein said porous element is less electro-chemically active than the metal employed for the metal element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a fluid flow sensor (10)for sensing a flow (F) of a fluid (120) through a region. The sensor (10) comprises a magnetic circuit (50, 60a, 60b) for applying a magnetic field (70) to the region, and electrodes (40a, 40b) for sensing a potential (V) generated in operation between the electrodes (40a, 40b) in response to the fluid (120) flowing through the magnetic field (70). Each electrode (40) includes a metal element (130; 300; 400; 500), a metal halide element (110; 310; 320; 410; 520), and an electrically conductive porous element (100; 330; 420; 530). The porous element (100; 330; 420; 530), hinders progressive loss of the metal halide element (110; 310, 320; 410; 520), to the flow (F) and provides an electrically conductive path between the flow (F) and the metal halide element (110; 310; 320; 410; 520), and thereby to the metal element (130; 300; 400; 500). Inclusion of the porous element (100; 330; 420; 530) provides the sensor (10) with increased operating longevity without compromising its measurement noise performance.
10 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A fluid flow sensor for sensing a flow of a fluid through a region, the sensor comprising a magnetic circuit for applying a magnetic field to at least a part of the region, and a configuration of electrodes for sensing a potential generated in operation between the electrodes in response to the fluid flowing through the magnetic field wherein each of the electrodes is formed by a succession of a metal element, a metal halide element, and an at least partially electrically conductive porous element located in contact with said metal halide element and, in use, with said fluid, said porous element being operable to at least partially hinder progressive loss of the metal halide element to the flow of the fluid and to provide an electrically conductive path between the flow of the fluid and the metal halide element and thereby to the metal element;
- wherein said porous element is less electro-chemically active than the metal employed for the metal element.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 35, 37)
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19. An electrode for providing an electrical contact to a fluid, the electrode comprising a metal element wherein the electrode is formed by a succession of mental element, a metal halide element and an at least partially electrically conductive porous element located in contact with said mental halide element, in use, with said fluid;
- said porous element being operable to at least partially hinder progressive loss of the metal halide element to the fluid, and to provide an electrically conductive path between the fluid and the metal halide element and thereby to the metal element;
wherein said porous element is less electro-chemically active than the metal employed for the metal element. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38)
- said porous element being operable to at least partially hinder progressive loss of the metal halide element to the fluid, and to provide an electrically conductive path between the fluid and the metal halide element and thereby to the metal element;
Specification